Louis Comfort Tiffany recreated one of Grasset's poster designs in stained glass. The image, a "Wooly Horse" for the 1892 Christmas issue of Harper's Magazine, had proved so popular in America that Tiffany saw an opportunity to translate it into his own medium. It was an unusual tribute: one designer's poster becoming another designer's window.
Key facts
- Lived
- 1841–1917, French
- Movements
- Works held in
- 3 museums
Biography
Grasset was born in Lausanne in 1845, the son of a cabinetmaker and sculptor who taught him to use a chisel before he could draw. He studied drawing under Francois Bocion, then architecture in Zurich. A trip to Egypt after completing his education left a permanent mark on his visual vocabulary. He moved to Paris in 1871 and began designing furniture, wallpapers, fabrics, tapestries, ceramics and jewellery before turning to graphic design in 1877.
Poster art became his primary medium. His style drew on Viollet-le-Duc's theories of decorative structure, Japanese woodblock prints and Egyptian ornament, combined into flowing compositions that helped define Art Nouveau before the term existed. The G. Peignot et Fils typefoundry introduced the "Grasset" typeface at the 1900 Universal Exhibition, an italic design he created for use on his posters. He also collaborated with the jeweller Henri Vever on pieces that merged Art Nouveau organic forms with mythological subjects.
He taught design at a succession of Paris institutions from 1890 until 1913, including the Ecole Guerin, the Ecole Estienne and the Academie de la Grande Chaumiere. His influence on the generation of designers who followed him was extensive but largely unacknowledged outside France. He died in 1917, at seventy-two.
Timeline
- 1845Born in Lausanne, Switzerland, the son of a cabinetmaker and sculptor who taught him to use the chisel and gouge from an early age.
- 1861At 16, travelled to Zurich to study architecture, having already trained in drawing under the painter Francois-Louis David Bocion in Lausanne.
- 1871Moved to Paris at 26 after working as a theatre painter and sculptor in Lausanne, and began designing furniture, wallpapers, fabrics, and ceramics.
- 1885At 40, completed his landmark illustrated edition of 'Les Quatre Fils Aymon' in Paris, a project that had occupied him for over a decade and established his reputation as a decorative artist.
- 1890Began teaching design at the Ecole Guerin in Paris at 45, where his students included Paul Berthon and Paul Follot, both future Art Nouveau designers.
- 1897His alphabet design was patented as the 'Grasset' typeface by the Peignot foundry in Paris when he was 52, making him one of the first Art Nouveau typographers.
- 1905At 60, began teaching the history and drawing of the letter at the Ecole Estienne in Paris, cementing his role as a leading design educator.
- 1917Died at 72 in Sceaux, a commune southwest of Paris, having spent over four decades shaping French decorative arts and graphic design.
Notable Works
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Where to See Eugène Grasset
2 museums worldwide.
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1 works
Maison de Victor Hugo
Hôtel de Rohan-Guémené, France
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1 works
Musée des Arts Décoratifs
Louvre Palace, France
Related Artists
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Eugène Grasset known for?
Eugène Grasset is known for his poster art and graphic design. He designed the poster for Jeanne d’Arc starring Sarah Bernhardt, as well as the logo of the female sower used on the Larousse dictionary.Who was Eugène Grasset?
Eugène Grasset was a designer, sculptor, and painter. He was born in Lausanne in 1845, and he later moved to Paris in 1871, where he designed furniture, wallpapers, and jewellery before focusing on graphic design in 1877.What was Eugène Grasset's art style?
Eugène Grasset's style drew on Viollet-le-Duc's theories of decorative structure, Japanese woodblock prints and Egyptian ornament. These influences combined into flowing compositions that helped define Art Nouveau before the term existed.When was Eugène Grasset born?
Eugène Grasset was born in 1841 in France. Eugène Grasset died in 1917, aged 76.How did Eugène Grasset die?
Eugène Grasset died in 1917 at the age of 76.
Sources
Editorial draws on the following primary and tertiary references for Eugène Grasset.
- [1] book Jean Lahor, Art Nouveau Used for: biography.
- [2] book Kalba, Laura Anne, Color in the Age of Impressionism Used for: biography.
Editorial overseen by Solis Prints. Sources verified 2026-05-17. Click a source for details, or hover over [N] in the page above to preview.
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